U.S. Senator Tina Smith (DFL- MN) is advocating for a new bill combating isolation issues among seniors as "the loneliness epidemic" becomes more of a problem.
In Smith's home state of Minnesota, 30% of residents 65 and older are living alone and this "epidemic" has proven deadly, causing higher rates of heart disease, stroke, and depression.
Senator Smith says she hopes to put an emphasis on the issue.
"This authorizes activities by the federal government, and when you're building programs to support seniors, you need to be thinking about how it will help them address issues of loneliness."
Steve Hoover with The Central Minnesota Council on Aging says these solo agers can face a variety challenges.
"These are people who really have no one else," Hoover explains. "They don't have children, they don't have a spouse, they may never have been married. They're concerned about just who's going to get me to doctor's appointment."
The bill would also add “loneliness” to the federal list of disease prevention services.
Senator Smith says the bill is personal for her.
"I think of my own father who is nearly 94," says Smith. "And I watched the struggles that he went through when my mom was suffering from Alzheimer's and he became so isolated as he was caring for her."
Senator Smith says the bill will authorize recommended activities for seniors at the federal level.
The bill also has bipartisan support with Florida Senators and Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott behind the legislation.
“Seniors across the country are suffering from mental health issues and loneliness. That is why I am introducing the SENIOR Act to support Florida’s seniors by addressing this issue and bringing seniors back into our communities,” said Senator Rubio.
“Florida has a wonderful senior population that contributes so much to our great state. Combatting the feeling of isolation and loneliness for our aging community has endless benefits – from better mental and physical health to stronger, multigenerational relationships with families and communities. I’m proud to lead this bill with Senator Rubio to better support our seniors,” said Senator Scott.
The SENIOR Act would add loneliness as a disease eligible for programming under Older Americans Act. Specifically, the bill would:
- Allow states to provide OAA grants to programs that are tackling loneliness, such as the foster grandparent program or Meals on Wheels
- Require Administration for Community Living to provide technical assistance on implementing initiatives addressing loneliness
- Requires a report on the impacts of loneliness on seniors and propose solutions for identified impacts, including an analysis of the relationship between the strength of multigenerational family units and loneliness in seniors.